Page 64 of A Touch of Iron
“Destroyed,” he clarified.
“What about Ansel? Is he okay?” I quickly asked, remembering the hit he took before I passed out.
“He’s fine. He’s resting.” Alec glanced around before his gaze fell on me. “Now that you’re awake, you have a decision to make … Jon and the others are willing to remove the orb and place it elsewhere where no one can have access to it.”
“You’re going to become human again?” Creed cut in. “That’s a damn shame.”
“I wouldn’t be human,” I grumbled. “Just powerless.”
“That would suck,” he said. “You never know when your elemental powers will come in handy. You can run to the human realm all you want, but it won’t stop you from being what you are. And that’s a halfling.”
“Shut up,” Alec growled. “This isherdecision. Not yours.”
“Do I have to decide now?” I asked Alec.
He nodded grimly. “A Council was formed to lead the fae now that the King and Queen are gone. For now, they hold the most power in the realm and are the only ones strong enough to remove the orb. But this is the only opportunity the Council has to do it.”
I nodded. “Give me a second?”
“Sure. I’ll be outside.” Alec stood and looked over at Creed. “You too, asshole.”
Creed sighed before following Alec outside my room.
I hated to admit it, but Creed was right. No matter what I did, I would still be a halfling. Running off to live in the human realm wouldn’t change that.
While I was muddling my decision, there was a knock at my door. Kazimir entered without being invited. He walked over to the bed and sat in the chair Creed had vacated a few minutes earlier. He sighed and ran a hand through his dark hair, then looked me over. “How are you feeling?”
“Fine,” I grumbled. “Just a bit exhausted.”
“Of course. You used up all your energy.”
“Thanks toyourson,” I growled.
Kazimir sighed. “It wasn’t his finest hour.”
“He killed Calypso!” I shouted. “He can’t get away with that.”
“And he won’t. Creed has already agreed that he should be punished for her death.”
I jerked back, surprised. I didn’t imagine him to be the type to own up to his sins, but I guess I was wrong. Then again, I really didn’t know Creed, now did I?
“Do you want a piece of advice?” Kazimir cut into my thoughts.
“Not like I have a choice, so shoot.” I settled back against the headboard and got comfortable.
“Don’t get rid of the orb,” he said casually. “Don’t leave yourself unprotected.”
“Isn’t it dangerous leaving it with me?” I asked.
Kazimir shook his head. “It’s safer with you. Do you think for one second the new Council would leave that orb alone if you removed it? No matter what they promise now, someone ambitious enough will come along and try to use it for their own gain. But not if you have it.”
EPILOGUE
VIOLET
Warm, comforting sunlight shone on my face and I squinted against the brightness. I looked out over Central Park as joggers, families, and everything in between roamed the park, oblivious to the non-human entities bustling around them. I sat back in my chair and closed my eyes, soaking in the comfort of the human realm.
It was great to be back.
